What would you do

[marshallwk]

Ok so I received a DPMS 308 AP4 engraved as a gift. I want to get started in practical long range shooting. I don't have any other long range rifles.

Now I can get the regular 308 LR upper from the factory for free because it was originally supposed to be that rifle(24 inch stainless barrel). However this would come with the undesirable receiver and not the A3 that the AP4 comes with(the one with the forward assist and dust cover).

Or I can just sell the thing and use the money to buy something else. I'm in the military and don't have much money so I can afford that much.

The optic i'm looking to put on this is the Leupold Mark 4 3.5X10X40 just for familiarity reasons. And yes I realize I can outshoot whatever rifle I get at the sub 2k pricerange however i'd like to shoot on the weekends with non duty equipment and 1 moa is all I really need.

Any advice?

 

[harrisjl]

Re: What would you do

I would say its questionable that you can shoot everything below $2k unless you have been doing it for a while.

Really its up to you and depends what you want, For the same money you can buy a remington700p or some of the savages.

semis are fun though.

 

[OptedOut]

Re: What would you do

Why don't you just keep it to start your own collection and shoot it. Then save up in the meanwhile and later buy a bolt.

 

[deadly0311]

Re: What would you do

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marshallwk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Or I can just sell the thing and use the money to buy something else. I'm in the military and don't have much money so I can afford that much.

The optic i'm looking to put on this is the Leupold Mark 4 3.5X10X40 just for familiarity reasons. And yes I realize I can outshoot whatever rifle I get at the sub 2k pricerange however i'd like to shoot on the weekends with non duty equipment and 1 moa is all I really need.

Any advice?
</div></div>

Feel your pain on the money part, im a Marine as well. But the glaring issue i see here is you can outshoot anything under 2K dollars.....comeon dont fool yourself youre only setting yourself up for failure. I see contradicting statements here, you can out shoot anything under 2K but 1 MOA is all you need, most people who can outshoot anything under 2K want those tiny itty bitty groups. I know for a fact you will not outshoot a Remington 5R Milspec, also i know you wont outshoot my Badger....just because its 2K up doesnt mean it has magical fairy dust that makes it shoot so much better, its more the driver of the gun. But what i would do is take the free upper, its FREE.....you dont need a forward assist on a AR platform, dust cover i can understand that. Get the free one and if you dont want to get rid of the engraved one, sell the free one, its cash in your pocket and get what you want

 

[Queequeg]

Re: What would you do

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get the free one and if you dont want to get rid of the engraved one, sell the free one, its cash in your pocket and get what you want
</div></div>

Ditto.

Thanks for your service (both of you!).

 

[Rovieairto]

Re: What would you do

Changing out just the upper is really no big deal.
I wouldn't say that any of their uppers are undesirable but if you want the dust cover and forward assist then that's what you should get.
Ask if they will substitute.
Shoot it as is and later get the upper that you want.
By that time you may need a new barrel anyhow.

As an aside:
How are you going to be able to out-shoot these optics?
The Mark4 3.5-10 is a damn fine sighting device and it will much more likely be the rifle/ammunition that you will out-shoot.
If you're out-shooting your Mk4 then it's broken and you will need to send it to Leopold under their lifetime warranty.

Here is mine on the undesirable upper:

 

[SHANE0472]

Re: What would you do

You won't be happy with 1MOA for long. Sell it, buy a bolt gun.

 

[BOLTRIPPER]

Re: What would you do

Chat up another member here on the Hide for "Fairy Dust"....


i'll look around....i may have some old rabbit's foot in my hope chest.

 

[Goatman007]

Re: What would you do

Go to Budsgunshop.com, He has remington heavy barreled varmint guns for around $500, I got one in 7mm-08, shot a 1 3/8" group at 333 yards in a 40MPH wind, excellent rifles. Going to replace the stock with a blackhawk though.

 

[garandman]

Re: What would you do

I love my DPMS LR-308. Soon to have an Ops 12th model to compelte the M110 look.

I've re-barrelled it with a FUlton Armory Titan barrell

With 168 gr BT bullet over 44 gr Varget, this rifle will shoot 0.50 MoA.

Now, the advice (opinion) part -

Put the scope on your AP4 and see what you got before you deal it.

With the right barrel and a free float rail the rifle is more than capable of what you've outlined as your requirements.

24" barrel seems long to me, and you don't need a bull barrel. That's just extra weight you gotta hump to the range.

Your optic choice is excellent IMO.

 

[Rovieairto]

Re: What would you do

A 40 mph wind?

Really?

 

[deadly0311]

Re: What would you do

yeah im gonna need to see a video of that, 40 mph wind and your group was under almost 1/3 MOA

 

[Goatman007]

Re: What would you do

Yes it was!!!! Used a wind meter, maxed out my right windage knob and still had to hold off right 1 mil, in ND you either learn to shoot with the wind or you never shoot!!! I have a witness also!

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: What would you do

I'd keep that upper. Shoot it as is till you're tired of it then change the barrel out to the length you really want. That way you can switch to a match barrel instead of a factory one.

 

[scotharr]

Re: What would you do

I'd sell that puppy in a heart beat: what the heck is a "308 carbine" used for? If you want a 308, get yourself a nice R700 bolt action or FN Bolt Action: great bang for the buck, accurate, and reliable. An AR is awesome in 223.....questionable as a 308 platform. Go to a few highpower prone or XTC matches: you don't see any AR10-style rifles. There is a reason for this.

I'm guessing your are at Ft. Bragg. Sell that "tacticool" but impractical rifle to someone else. Get a bolt action for the 308-sized cartridges: more economical, reliable, and accurate. Flame on.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: What would you do

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd sell that puppy in a heart beat: what the heck is a "308 carbine" used for? </div></div>

.308 carbine? Hunting of course.

 

[bama110]

Re: What would you do

I would sell both get a good bolt gun with bottom metal. It will save a ton of ammo.

 

[carbinero]

Re: What would you do

Nice gift. I assume the lower has been engraved on your behalf? I don't generally think it's a good idea to sell a gift like that, so I'd hang on to the lower, whatever else you do.

Next, you need to decide whether you want to shoot a semi or a bolt. That should take you a long ways toward knowing what to do, and no one here can answer that question for you. GAP could accurize the DPMS if you wish to stay with the AR and find it isn't good enough for ya. Of course you could also have the upper receivers swapped eventually to gain the elements you like, have the barrel chopped, or whatever.

So if you decide to stay with the AR, I'd swap for the 24" just because it would be less wearing at the range (although cumbersome in the field). However if you wish to go with a boltie, I'd sell the AP4 upper. And keep the lower for later use. Like an LMT upper.